Electric connector for hose



(No Model.)

C. F. KBLLOM. ELECTRIC CCNNECTCE ECE EosE.

No. 482,181: Patented Sept.. 6, 1892.

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UNITED STATE-s PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. KELLOM, OF DELAIR, NEW JERSEY.

ELECTRIC CONNECTOR FOR HOSE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 482,181, dated September 6, 1892.

Application filed December 3l, 1891. Serial No. 416,725. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHnRLEs F. KELLOM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Delair, county of Camden, and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric Conductors for Fire and other Hose, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

My invention consists in providing a fire or other hose with means for electrically signaling to and from a hoseman and engineer or other person forcommunicating requirements, such as turning on or cutting off water or other information.

Figure l represents a top view of hose-coupling having electric conductors embodying my invention applied thereto, the plates which cover portions of said conductors being removed. Fig. 2 representsa longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of the circuit-forming devices employed.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, A and B designate the two parts or collars of a hose-coupling, one collar having the clamps C thereon and the other collar -being formed with the shoulder D for engagement of said clamps, whereby the sections of hose may be coupled.

Secured to the sections of the hose and portions of the collars A B, extending along the same, are tubes E, within which are wires or electric conductors F, the ends of which within the collars separate or spread and in the collar B are connected with fingers or points G, which when the coupling of the hose is eifected contact with the segmental rings H on the other coupling, vsaid rings being secured to a packing-piece or gasket J, which latter is attached to the outer end of the coupling A and adapted to close against the end or edge of the opposite coupling B, so as to form a water-tight joint between the couplings, whereby water is prevented from reaching the contact-pieces G and J, it being noticed that wires or electric conductors F are connected with said rings l-l, so that when the sections of hose are coupled an electric circuit is form ed, the same being serviceable for operatinga suitable electric signaling apparatus at either end of the hose or such apparatus at each end of the hose, whereby a hoseman may communicate with the engineer or other person connected with a fire-engine, pump, &c., a code of signals being predetermined-as, for instance, one for turning on or cutting o water or varying the supply of the same or for other information useful on the occasion of operating the hose. As the pieces G and J are in contact when the couplings are joined, it is evident that when the hose is uncoupled the circuit is broken, it being also noticed that the electric conductors and contact-pieces do not interfere with the operation of coupling or uncoupling the hose and reeling of the latter. The contactpieces are properly insulated from the couplings and are not exposed on the outside of the same.

The portions of the wires or conductors that pass through the couplings after leaving the tubes E are seated in channels or recesses in said couplings on the exterior thereof, and the same are covered by plates K, which are secured to the couplings and may be readily removed therefrom when access to said wires or conductors is desirable.

It is desirable to construct the coupling whereby the parts thereof do not rotate, and thus improperly break the electric connection.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A hose-coupling having its collars provided with tubes on their sides and electric wires in said tubes and having a segmental ring adapted to contact with said wires, substantially as described.

2. Ahose-coupling having one of its collars provided with a gasket and the other collar provided with fingers, a segmental ring seated on said gasket, adapted to contact with said fingers, and electric wires connected with said ring and fingers, said parts being combined substantially as described.

3. A hose-coupling having one of itscollars provided with a gasket adapted to extend between it and the othel` collar, a, ring on said collar, and fingers or points on the other coilax', said parts being combined substantially as described.

4. A hose-couplin g having each of its collars provided with a contact-piece, one of the pieces being secured to packing, which forms a water-tight joint for the coupling substantially as described.

CHARLES F. KELLOM.

Witnesses: v

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, L. JENNINGS. 

